Visiting Pasadena, CA: Suggestions for lodging etc?

[Cheddarhead]

Greetings!

I'm heading out to Pasadena this coming weekend...my son will be performing with his Drum Corps at the DCI Nationals on 9 - 11 August.  I've got flights in on Friday the 9th and out on Monday the 13th...

Looking for a recommendation for a place to stay in reasonable proximity to the Rose Bowl (where the DCI's will be held...how cool is that!) so I can hang out with the Corps before they compete, help load the trucks afterwards, and send the gang off on their way back to America's Dairyland.  

I'll also be looking for something to do Sunday night and Monday, as I've got a red-eye back here Monday evening.  Not planning to rent a car (or I'd be heading for Vegas...) but I'm a big fan of local content...no chain restaurants or shopping malls for me, thanks, I'd rather try to eat and drink where the locals hang out.  So, if anybody has ideas for a ride-to-eat destination that I can get to, let me know...

Ideas/suggestions welcomed...

Thanks in Advance!

Cheddarhead

[ksann]

Well, I live just a few miles from Pasadena. I have no recommendations for places to stay, but 'Old Town' area of Pasadena has lots going on. Bars, clubs, restaraunts and such. Always active. Although being carless is tough in LA, as long as you plan to stay in that immediate area you are ok, but mass transit sux and everything else is far.



ken

[atadaskew]

I have no recommendations for places to stay

The Ritz Carlton in Pasadena is nice.
1401 South Oak Knoll Avenue, Pasadena, California 91106    

[Specter]

I'm heading out to Pasadena this coming weekend...my son will be performing with his Drum Corps at the DCI Nationals on 9 - 11 August.  I've got flights in on Friday the 9th and out on Monday the 13th.

Lodging nearby is going to be difficult - book ASAP. There are usual chains - Doubletree, Best Western, etc. Check the map, I did a search and yahoo travel was offering hotels 20 miles away.

Which Corps is your son in, what does he play?  My son was in Troopers in 2003!

We have tickets Thurs Fri, Sat

[MisterSmooth]

Greetings!

I'm heading out to Pasadena this coming weekend...my son will be performing with his Drum Corps at the DCI Nationals on 9 - 11 August.  I've got flights in on Friday the 9th and out on Monday the 13th...

Looking for a recommendation for a place to stay in reasonable proximity to the Rose Bowl (where the DCI's will be held...how cool is that!) so I can hang out with the Corps before they compete, help load the trucks afterwards, and send the gang off on their way back to America's Dairyland.  

I'll also be looking for something to do Sunday night and Monday, as I've got a red-eye back here Monday evening.  Not planning to rent a car (or I'd be heading for Vegas...) but I'm a big fan of local content...no chain restaurants or shopping malls for me, thanks, I'd rather try to eat and drink where the locals hang out.  So, if anybody has ideas for a ride-to-eat destination that I can get to, let me know...

Ideas/suggestions welcomed...

Thanks in Advance!

Cheddarhead

Old Town Pasadena is definitely the place to hang.  Lots of various kinds of clubs, movie theaters, dining.


Few interesting things to do in Pasadena, if you're so inclined.

1. Visit the Gamble House.  It's a National Historic Register mansion built in 1904; the local American Institute of Architecture does tours.  It's way cool.

2. Visit the Art Center College of Design.  It's up on the hill above the Rose Bowl.  In the lobby there's quite an extensive gallery of student work, everything from automotive and motorcycle 3-D design to hilarious "TV commercials" put together by the film department.  Don't let the idea that this is "student" work put you off; it's very impressive stuff indeed.  These are the people who will be designing your next car.

3. Visit the City Hall and walk up to the cupola and survey the city.  Nice view, and it's free.

[Cheddarhead]

Which Corps is your son in, what does he play?  My son was in Troopers in 2003!

We have tickets Thurs Fri, Sat

Sean's in the Madison Scouts...

This is the first year he's been eligible for a D1 Corps, and he's rabid about all things music, marching bands, etc...so earning a slot in a D1 Corps has been a dream come true for him this summer.

I saw the Troopers here (in Racine, WI) in late June.  Very much enjoyed their drill, and the music was well done.  Nice to see them back in the rotation after a brief hiatus!

When in Pasadena, feel free to give me a call if you want to hook up for a beer or whatever...I'll PM you my #

Charlie

[hellcat]

When my parents come out to visit they stay at the Artist's Inn in South Pasadena...
adjacent to Pasadena, but without all the traffic.

http://www.artistsinns.com/


also nearby, and located on Orange Grove Blvd.  walking distance from the Gamble House is The Bissell House Bed & Breakfast
http://www.bissellhouse.com

[MisterSmooth]

Yo, cheddaman...

so, did you have a good time in Pasadena?  How'd the Mad Scouts do?

[Cheddarhead]

Yo, cheddaman...

so, did you have a good time in Pasadena?  How'd the Mad Scouts do?

Had a good time in Pasadena...Scouts marched well...they'd totally re-vamped their drill in the past 3 - 4 weeks, and it was really well-done and entertaining...they scored OK...not great.  They failed to qualify for the Finals...only the 2nd time they've ever missed the Finals, from what I was told...but the day was good in all respects!

I was really impressed with the overall performances from several of the Corps....enjoyed the Crusaders, the Phantom Regiment, and the Blue Devils.  Other performances left me...meh...hu hum.  Obviously I'm biased...and perhaps lacking in insight/sophistication.

I did enjoy watching the "Anaheim Kingsmen" Reunion Corps perform...and was struck at how "martial" their drill was (Color Guard actually "guarding" the "Colors", using marching drill and pike manuevers that might have been used when William Wallace was tormenting "Longshanks..." a few hundred years ago... (vs) an artistic/rythmic gymnastics-type choreography as seen today...and things like having Drum Majors marching on the field, Corps "high-stepping" en masse, Guards in Kilts, etc...almost felt like it was a "Wide Wide World of Sports"-type moment.

Don't understand the scoring system (or, more accurately, the criteria) and I'm still a relative newbie...but it does seem a bit biased...the Corps were "seeded" with the highest-scoring average groups going last each day.  Seemed to be a "self-fulfilling" prophesy to me.  While I doubt that a Corps scoring 12th in the Quarters would "jump up" to the top 2 or 3 in the Finals, it would seem that if the order of performance each night were a bit more random (at least for Corps 4 - whatever...) it might make for more "swapping paint" and position.  But what do I know?

[Specter]

For everyone who has no idea what we're talking about; watch ESPN2 Sept 5, 10PM EDT for the DCI World Championships  


Your son should be very proud - the scouts show was one of my favorites. I was sorry to see them miss finals. Next Year...

I've been watching DCI for years, and there is some bias in the system and scoring. The starting order for each night is determined by the previous evening's scores, and a few corps did change order. Troopers were very annoyed at the first night order, because their scores were higher than many of the corps they started before. They did move up in oder, but didn't make the cut to the semis.

The one Corps that scored way higher than they should have IMO were the Cadets. All the narration marred the show, and as you could tell, annoyed the hell out of the audience! At least they didn't win